Shackleford most likely to land the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at the Belmont Park
The Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap has brought together one of the most competitive line-up of six which includes four Grade 1 winners. The race will be held at the Belmont Park over a mile on Monday, 28th May.
One of the strongest contenders for the $750,000 race is the four-year-old colt Shackleford. The only time that he raced over a mile was on 5th November, 2011 in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs.
Dale L. Romans’ under charge scored second while Caleb’s Posse triumphed.
The first graded win of Forestry’s son was on 21st May, 2011 in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course over 1 3/16 miles when it took him a minute and :56.47 seconds to settle the race and set Animal Kingdom second.
He could not really set sail in the other two legs of the Triple Crown races as he ended fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on 7th May at Churchill Downs over 1 ¼ miles. On 11th June, Shackleford parked fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes over 1 ½ miles.
His landmark achievement for the 2011 season was the Preakness Stakes’ win and yet another worthwhile posting on his profile was the second position in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
By mare Oatsee, Shackleford has been placed third and then bagged a race through the three outings of the 2012 season. His seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap turned into a seventh position.
He then raced on 7th April in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct over seven furlongs. He ended third as opposed to the winner, Jackson Bend, and the runner up, Caleb’s Posse.
Owned by W. D. Cubbedge and Michael Lauffer, the four-year-old won a race after being unsuccessful in the seven prior tries. He claimed the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on 5th May at Churchill Downs over seven furlongs.
It took him a minute and :21.06 seconds to conclude the track distance and was soon followed by Amazombie and Gantry.
It has been a while since he raced at Belmont Park and over a mile but has confronted the core rivals just recently. He has finished third after Jackson Bend and Caleb’s Posse and now should make the most out of the chance today to switch places.
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